Thank you, i will look into it
If memory serves ABS is what they use to make Lego
Gear printed and moving.
So how much do you charge? Say I wanted something made up how would I go about doing it? Also I have been messing around and it looks like sketchup saves as .SKP. Can that work or does it need to be converted?
We're kind of making it up as we go along, we'll probably charge based on print material volume. I believe you can export Sketchup files to STL. It's highly experimental since print settings will be different depending on the intended use of the object. We've been testing out different materials mostly for our own product housing and seen good results. The only problem I can foresee is if the design people submit isn't structurally strong enough because the "walls" are too thin, which is why we don't want to offer a design service because we don't have enough experience in structural and material design. This is more of a test hobby service we're offering on the side since we have the machine available and as we pick up more knowledge we may make it more official. The time requirement for 3D printing is pretty high especially if a print doesn't work out. The Radiant Cases we have take over 2 hours to print.
Interesting. Well if you need someone to give you a trial run I did just make my first thing in sketchup haha
Using OpenSCAD I downloaded and modified a parametric battery holder. http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5079/
I entered in some rough measurement for a dual 32650 holder, this particular design looks like it requires some screws, nuts, and bolts. You can even set the dimensions of the spacing between the batteries, size of the nuts, bolts, and screws using OpenSCAD (free software).
I went and generated a triple 18650 holder as well:
What have you sketched up?
Nearly all the plastic you see on cars and bikes is ABS so you know it’s durable. Welding is about the only way to repair it. Adhesives and epoxies don’t stick to it very well.
Just a small simple thing
I would probably need dimensions on how big a diameter for the entire holder and max height.
Got a file link?
Not yet. I just uploaded a picture for a general idea type thing
That blue 18650 protector is pretty cool!
Any price on them?
What a great toy you’ve got there. Would the plastic be tough enough to hold up to the typical fine threads of a battery tube, and can it reproduce such fine threads?
I'm not sure if the tube is robust enough for me to even sell to people. I did a torture test dropping it on concrete and carpet and the weak point turned out to be the threads, the entire cap broke off with the threads inside after tossing it up to the ceiling because it's the thinnest part of the design. The resolution of the printer is quite high 0.15mm (150 microns), the problem is just that too thin of a thread would break. While it may be ABS plastic, it's printed in fine layers so it's not as strong as a solid piece. I'll probably print some out and send out some samples if you guys really want them.
Would HDPE be a better choice for threaded pieces? Do you only have ABS?
i could be wrong, but in plastic i think threads and thin sections are always going to be weak points
I was chatting with another member a while back about 3D printing, and one thing no one ever mentions about it is that the pieces often have less strength then an identical item with the same material made by conventional means (but of course you need no molds and you can make unique shapes with a 3d printer)
The printer we have only works with ABS and PLA plastics, personally we only have ABS on hand.
I did say that: